The Rockies announced the hiring of Jeff Pickler as bench coach. Thomas Harding of MLB.com reported the move before the club announcement.
Pickler, who turns 50 in January, worked as game-planning/outfield coach with the Reds from 2019-24. He’d worked under skipper David Bell during that time but was not retained when Cincinnati hired Terry Francona. Before his time in Cincinnati, Pickler spent two seasons on the Minnesota coaching staff. Harding points out that Pickler had also worked in scouting with the Diamondbacks and Padres when Josh Byrnes was general manager of those clubs. Colorado hired Byrnes as GM underneath baseball operations president Paul DePodesta a couple weeks ago.
Before entering the scouting ranks, Pickler played eight minor league seasons as an infielder. That included one season in the Rox system. Pickler finished his playing days with their Triple-A club in 2005.
The Rockies have made a handful of hirings as Warren Schaeffer enters his first full season in the managerial role. Brett Pill (hitting coach), Alon Leichman (pitching coach), Gabe Ribas (assistant pitching coach), and Matt Buschmann (bullpen coach) are also in place. Colorado had used Clint Hurdle as interim bench coach after firing skipper Bud Black in May. It’s unclear whether Hurdle will remain in the organization in 2026.
How long before they sour on him?
C’mon! Pickler signing is a big dill.
Yeah it’s absolutely kosher.
Garret Stubbs?
They are going to relish him being a part of the organization. One heck of a good dill for the team. He’s going to really earn his bread and butter.
He is 50. Guess it took them a long time to run him down. Must have been a jarring experience.
Grillos are vastly superior to bubbies.
Really, when I first saw this guy’s name, I thought they were just gherkin me around.
There are a few past baseball coaches who did the job while completely pickled, but this guy is supposed to be really dill-igent.
That’ll show em
Wonder if he likes pickles?